By: Anchia H.B. No. 3902
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of political contributions to make payments in
connection with the rental of certain real property; providing a
criminal penalty.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 253.038, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
       (a-1)  A candidate or officeholder or a specific-purpose
committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting the candidate or
officeholder may not knowingly make or authorize a payment from a
political contribution for the rental of real property from:
             (1)  a person related in the second degree by
consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573,
Government Code, to the candidate or officeholder; or
             (2)  a business in which the candidate or officeholder
or a person described by Subdivision (1) has a participating
interest of more than 10 percent, holds a position on the governing
body, or serves as an officer.
       SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 253.038, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
       Sec. 253.038.  PAYMENTS MADE TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY OR TO
RENT CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY PROHIBITED.
       SECTION 3.  Section 253.038(a-1), Election Code, as added by
this Act, applies to a payment made from political contributions on
or after the effective date of this Act, without regard to whether
the payment was made under a lease or other agreement entered into
before the effective date of this Act.  A payment made from
political contributions before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the payment was made, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
       SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.